Rs 3-lakh bike stolen after cops leave it unattended

While the biker was taken to Kherwadi police station for speeding, police personnel abandoned the vehicle at the traffic junction after receiving news about a major fire in Bandra

Yogi Chabaria (32) a businessman and resident of Walkeshwar was in suitably high spirits, riding his Rs 3-lakh Honda bike, headed towards Andheri on Wednesday night. An assistant police inspector and his team with three vehicles stationed at Kherwadi junction saw him speeding.

The cops had left the two-wheeler to attend to the fire at Bandra. When they returned, they found the two-wheeler to be missing. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar

Around 11.30 pm, the personnel intercepted Chabaria and detained him. He was put in mobile vehicle number 2 of Kherwadi cops and taken to the police station. About the same time, the police got a message from the control room about a major fire in Bandra.

The officer and his staff thought that this was a significant incident and their presence might be required at the spot. In their haste, the cops overlooked the need for sending the bike to the police station and left it at the traffic junction, expecting to collect it later. When they returned in the wee hours yesterday, the two-wheeler was gone.

Meanwhile, cops at Kherwadi booked Chabaria for rash and negligent driving. He secured bail yesterday. A case was registered against unknown persons for the bike theft. An officer who was on duty Wednesday night, said, “There were sufficient personnel and the API should have asked a constable to escort the bike to the police station with its owner.”

At the time of going to press, there were reports that the bike had been found in Malad and cops were on their way to recover it. Interestingly, police also suspect that the owner himself may have moved the vehicle with the help of an associate. Cops are also surveying footage from a CCTV camera near Kherwadi junction.